Equipment procurement method and system

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for the replacement of equipment in a process control system for an industrial plant, in which a replacement operation is conducted at least in part by means of a first software application component for conducting e-procurement operations whereby one or more replacement devices complying with a defined specification may be procured from one or more external suppliers, which component is functionally linked with at least one second software application component for managing runtime operational data associated with said equipment, such that e-procurement operations may be initiated via said at least one second software application component.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is concerned with computerized systems forsupervision, maintenance and control of real world entities. Inparticular this invention is a method of providing computer-aidedprocurement of industrial or commercial equipment.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Replacement of parts and equipment for industrial manufacturing,process and control systems, herein referred to individually as anindustrial plant, has traditionally been carried out by referring toinformation held in a maintenance system database of some sort. Parts ofan industrial plant include for example pumps, valves, heating systems,robots, control systems, motors, drives for control systems, and otherproducts used in industry, including for example the food industry,heavy and light manufacturing industries, oil and gas extraction andrefining, chemical processes, mining, electrical generation, transportand distribution systems.

[0003] For many years it has been common practice for majormanufacturing companies to communicate with customers and suppliers bymeans of computerised documents conforming to a standard known asElectronic Data Interchange (EDI). This standard is described in UnitedNations standards including EDIFACT and in US American NationalStandards Committee (ANSII) standards relating to EDI includingAccredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 standards for EDI. EDI has beencharacterised by expensive proprietary software, often custom softwareand complex, non standard implementation. With the emergence of theWorld Wide Web companies have begun to use user-friendly, open-standard,relatively inexpensive Web-browser technologies for purchasing byconsumers, or Business to Consumer, so called B2C, and for purchasing byother corporate entities, or Business-to-Business, so called B2B. WithinB2B the use of computerised customer-supplier communication in so-callede-procurement operations is expanding rapidly. For example e-procurementexchanges, or e-marketplaces, have recently been expanding in number;examples include Marrakech (www.marrakech.com), Ariba (www.ariba.com)and Buzzsaw (www.buzzsaw.com).

[0004] Standards for e-procurement transactions have been developed bythe RosettaNet forum, see for example document “PIP3A1: Request Quote”,Beta 01.00.00B, RosettaNet, May 22, 2000, which describes a standardisedset of purchaser-supplier interaction processes for transmitting andresponding to Request for Quotes (RFQs).

[0005] International patent application WO 99/19819, applied for byIntelisys Electronic Commerce, describes an electronic commerce systemenabling corporate purchasers and suppliers to electronically transact,in e-procurement operations, for the purchase and supply of goods andservices.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411, issued to Amazon.com, Inc., describes amethod to order a product over the Internet. In particular, the methodand systems disclosed include method steps and computerised means tostore details about an existing customer, associated with customeridentification means such as a cookie, so that during future purchasesthe customer can purchase other products with a single “1-click” action,without having to re-enter address details identifying the customer. Themethod however discloses only how consumer products, principallyproducts that the consumer does not already possess or have controlover, may be purchased over the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer-implemented method for the replacement of equipmentin an industrial plant, in which a replacement operation is conducted atleast in part by means of a first software application component forconducting e-procurement operations whereby replacement equipment may beprocured from one or more external suppliers, which component isfunctionally linked with at least one second software applicationcomponent in a process control system for which represents and managesruntime operational data associated with said equipment, such thate-procurement operations may be initiated via said at least one secondsoftware application component.

[0008] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a procurement system for ordering equipment in a processcontrol system for an industrial plant, said system including means fortransmitting information including a specification for said apparatusand a means for communication with suppliers over a network, wherein thesystem comprises a first software application component for conductinge-procurement operations whereby one or more replacement devicescomplying with a defined specification may be procured from one or moreexternal suppliers, which component is functionally linked with at leastone second software application component for managing runtimeoperational data associated with said equipment, such that e-procurementoperations may be initiated via said at least one second softwareapplication component.

[0009] By linking e-procurement operations functionally with at leastone software application component for managing runtime operational dataassociated with said equipment, such that e-procurement operations maybe initiated via said at least one software application component, theneed for the involvement of separate personnel for individual equipmentpurchasing operations can be obviated. Instead, the purchasingoperations can be controlled, or at least initiated, by an operatorresponsible for the runtime operation of the equipment in the industrialplant. Indeed the procurement operations can be controlled primarily bythe process control system itself, whether or not human input is used toinitiate and/or confirm procurement decisions which are being made.

[0010] One aim of the invention is to provide a purchasing method, andmeans for carrying out the method, such that the replacement equipmentspecification, held in the process control system, may be included in aprocurement process such as a direct replacement purchase, a request fora quote (RFQ) procedure and/or a buying decision.

[0011] Information available in the control system, preferably directlyassociated with a software representation of an apparatus as an objectin the system, is retrieved to enable e-procurement operations to decidewhen, how and where to procure replacement equipment includinginformation about equipment failures and equipment maintenanceinformation. This may also be carried out, in part at least, by one ormore automatic processes. The maintenance information includes statusinformation from condition monitoring, usage history such as number ofoperations performed, etc.

[0012] The control system may use an object-oriented model for all theequipment in the system. An object is derived from an object type, whichholds information about how an object can be procured. This informationincludes schemas that can be used to procure equipment either internallyfrom a stock or from external locations through communication over theInternet or other means.

[0013] An object may hold instance specific data that may be usedtogether with the information in the object type to facilitate theprocurement.

[0014] For each object in the system, maintenance information isavailable. This information can be used to identify what equipment isused and record, for example to what extent a particular equipmentobject has been used over a time period. This can then be compared witha pre-configured limit for a particular equipment to decide when toreplace the equipment. Timing of a decision to replace equipment may bedetermined in several ways. As well as a planned method based on time,or time in use such as the above example, a planned predictive methodmay be used that takes into account characteristics of useage, eg startsand stops per unit time, average loads, average versus peak loads etc.Unplanned determinations may also be made on receipt of an alarm, or areading above a pre-determined level, or a signal that an equipment hasbroken.

[0015] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there isprovided a computer program code element, comprising computer code meansor software code portions for enabling a computer or a processor toretrieve information about replacement equipment, whereby said computeror processor carries out actions to receive information from a databasedetailing equipment specification; receive input identifying a parameterrelating to delivery times; and conduct e-procurement operations toobtain at least one quote for a given specification and delivery time.

[0016] A financial evaluation of the prices and delivery times may becarried out to calculate “what if” scenarios. Moreover, a price orprice/delivery specification of the apparatus or part thereof may alsobe evaluated in one or more iterations to obtain a specification with anoptimum financial cost.

[0017] In accordance with a yet further aspect of the invention, thereis provided a computer data signal embodied for communication in acomputerised system, the communication being associated with replacementof equipment in a process control system for an industrial plant,wherein the data signal comprises information derived from a maintenancespecification representing said equipment in a software application forconducting runtime maintenance of said equipment in the control system.

[0018] Embodiments of the invention include use of the schemas anddirections stored with an object type to query available locations suchas e-commerce sites or for cost and availability of replacementequipment. The maintenance information kept in the system may also beused to produce replacement schedules for upcoming replacementoperations based on a range of replacement criteria including conditionbased replacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of thepresent invention may be had by reference to the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of a control system for a processin an industrial plant.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement for an architecture of acontrol system for a process in an industrial plant.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a schematic arrangement for managing objectsrepresenting and/or containing information about equipment in a processin an industrial plant within a control system.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows a graphic representation of objects on a screen of anoperator work station which objects represent equipment in a process inan industrial plant controlled by a control system.

[0024]FIG. 5 shows a schematic example of a maintenance menu displayableon the operator work station in relation to objects representingequipment in the process in an industrial plant controlled by a controlsystem.

[0025]FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow chart of a method to replace anequipment according an embodiment of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 7 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for e-procurementof a replacement equipment by means of a replacement applicationaccording an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of a process controlsystem in an industrial plant 2. The system includes a control network4, a plant network 6 and one or more fieldbuses 8. The control network 4is a local area network (LAN) to which controllers 10, 12, 14 andservers 16, 18 are connected. The plant network 6 is connected to theservers 16, 18, workplace computers 20, and a gateway/firewall 22 viawhich connection to the Internet is achieved. E-commerce servers 24, 26,which are e-procurement enabled, are thus accessible from plant network6 via the Internet. E-commerce server 24 is an exemplary e-marketplace,whereas e-commerce server 26 is an exemplary front end procurementsystem of an equipment manufacturer. The plant network 6 is also usedfor communication between servers and between workplace computers andservers. Some servers 18 may function as combined servers andworkstation computers. Each workstation computer 18, 20, comprises userinterface means, such as a computer monitor, a keyboard, a pointingdevice such as a mouse, voice interaction means, etc, and functions as aclient whereby an operator may control operation of equipment viaequipment controllers 10, 12, 14, via a respective server 16, 18.

[0028] The fieldbuses 18 are used to interconnect field devices 28, 30,32, 34, such as in/out modules, smart sensors and actuators, regulators,variable speed drives, or single loop devices. A sensor on a device suchas a pump etc. may also be connected directly to the pump etc. and notvia a fieldbus.

[0029]FIG. 2 illustrates the functional architecture of the processcontrol system of the industrial plant. The system includes a number ofdifferent software application components, such as a report presentationapplication 42, an active graphics application 44, an alarm and eventapplication 46, a trends analysis and presentation application 48, acontrol builder 50, and a replacement system 52, all of which arereferred to herein as aspect systems, running on a software platform 54.Only a subset of the available aspect systems is shown in FIG. 2. Theaspect systems 42-52 may be implemented as object-oriented softwarecomponents supported by an object-oriented platform 54. Aspect systems42-52 may for example implement Microsoft™ ActiveX™, whilst platform 54may implement a user interface using HTML or XML. Software platform 54interacts with controllers 10, 12, 14, which in turn control andcommunicate with field devices 28-34.

[0030] The control system here described uses an object-oriented modelfor all the equipment in the system. An object is derived from an objecttype, which, amongst other things, holds information about how therelated equipment can be procured. This information includese-procurement schemas that can be used to procure equipment over theInternet or other media. An object may hold instance specific data thatmay be used together with the information in the object type tofacilitate the procurement.

[0031] For each item of equipment in the plant, maintenance informationis available in the process control system. This information can be usedto identify what the equipment is and to what extent a particular itemof equipment has been used over a time period. This can, for example, becompared with a configured limit to decide when to replace theequipment. The configured limit may be other than simply time based, andmay be condition based, performance based, useage based or be anycombination of time, use, load etc. factors.

[0032] Each item of equipment in the system has one or more graphicalrepresentations. Through this graphical representation, variousinformation available in the process control system for the object canbe accessed by a plant maintenance operator. The replacement procurementis in this embodiment initiated by an operator interacting with agraphical user interface on which a graphical representation of the itemof equipment is shown.

[0033]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of the way in whichinformation relating to an object is managed in the process controlsystem. Each item of equipment 100 is represented by a model object 102which is a container of references, including an object-orientedcomponent directory, to different representations of information,referred to as aspects 104-114, relating to the equipment in question.only a subset of the available aspects is illustrated in FIG. 3. Eachaspect is provided by an aspect system component. Thus, a control aspect104 is provided by control builder component 50, a faceplate aspect 106and a process graphics aspect 108 are each provided by active graphicscomponent 44, a report aspect 110 (such as for example a productionreport, a maintenance record, a cost of operation report, a qualityreport) is provided by reports component 42. A historical trend aspect112 is provided by trends component 48. A replacement aspect 114 isprovided by replacement system component 52.

[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates a graphics aspect 108 of an item of plantequipment, as seen by an operator on the graphical user interface of aworkplace computer 18, 20, whereby runtime maintenance and controloperations may be carried out for an item of equipment illustratedtherein. The equipment may for example be a one-way valve 200illustrated as an icon functionally interrelated with other processequipment 202, 204, 206 on a scrolling display 208.

[0035] The operator may access any of the aspects relating to an item ofequipment by selecting the appropriate representation of the item, forexample by right-clicking on the mouse, as the cursor is located overthe appropriate icon on the screen. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplarymaintenance menu 300 which is displayed in response to the selectionoperation. The menu includes a selectable list of the aspects availablefor the item of equipment in the process control system, for example acontrol aspect, a production report, a quality report, a functionaldescription of the item, a maintenance report, a cost of operationreport and a replacement aspect. On selecting one of the aspects, theoperator is presented with a graphical representation of the aspectselected. For example, if the control aspect is selected, the graphicaluser interface of the control aspect system may used to alter runtimeparameters relating to the selected item. All reporting functionsrelating to the item may similarly be accessed.

[0036] In this embodiment of the invention, a replacement aspectrelating to the item is also accessible via the menu 300. On selectingthe replacement entry, the operator is presented with a graphical userinterface which describes the projected lifecycle of the item ofequipment, for example the projected replacement date, which may becalculated by the replacement aspect system on the basis of datareceived from other of the aspect systems which describe the item. Forexample, the data may include data from the functional descriptionidentifying the manufacturer's average equipment lifetime, data from theproduction reports identifying the amount of usage the equipment hasundergone since installation, data based on condition monitoring,characteristics of use or loading, ratio of start/stops to serviceperiod, etc.

[0037] The replacement aspect also provides a selectable icon, markedfor example “REPLACE NOW” whereby the operator can override theprojected lifecycle and initiate replacement of the selected equipment.An operator may select this option for a number of reasons, based on ananalysis of the present state of the equipment via the other availableaspects.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 6. An operator selects the icon REPLACE NOW atpoint A. A query is made to check if the replacement item is availablein a local parts storage or inventory. If it is available, Y, then aninternal work order is generated and displayed to replace from a localinventory. The operator accepts or confirms acceptance, Y, and the workorder is then sent to the appropriate management or maintenancedepartment for action. If not, N, the operator amends the work orderuntil the details of the order are satisfactory, and when satisfactorysends the work order to the appropriate department for action as above.

[0039] If the replacement item is not available in a local inventory, N,then a form such as a request for quote (RFQ) is generated anddisplayed. For simple, inexpensive items a simplified order form orsimple price estimate request for may be used. The operator checks theform and if it is correct, accepts or confirms acceptance, step Y. Thee-procurement process is then initiated. If the operator does not acceptthe RFQ form, step N, then he/she makes alterations till the form iscorrect and then sends it to the initiate e-procurement stage C.

[0040] A method, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, for replacement of an apparatus is further detailed asfollows. The plant operator examines a display that includes a viewcontaining one representation of an object that represents the apparatusto be replaced. Using a computer mouse or other selection means theoperator:

[0041] finds the object in a graphical representation,

[0042] right-clicks on the object to bring up a context menu.

[0043] selects an entry to replace the apparatus.

[0044] The system then retrieves information available in the objectinstance and the object type to query a set of pre-selected orpre-configured e-commerce sites for available replacement units.

[0045] If an acceptable replacement unit is found, it is eitherautomatically procured or the user initiating the operation is asked toconfirm the operation. A final confirmation may be sent to the user toobtain final authorisation before an order is sent.

[0046] The method described above is implementable by means of areplacement aspect system in the form of software suitable for use overthe Internet by means of Hypertext MarkUp Language (HTML) code, CompactHTML (cHTML) Java (Trade Mark) programming, extensible Markup Language(XML) pages and the like open standard web browser and TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) techniques. In anadvantageous use of the invention, one or more software implementationsof the method may be arranged to search for and access one or moreInternet accessible systems for marketing and sales of industrialapparatus and products such as those types mentioned. By this means asoftware application or computer program may, like any other prospectivecustomer, browse information about an apparatus or a product, and carryout some or all of the following e-procurement operations:

[0047] selecting an apparatus,

[0048] selecting a specification for the apparatus,

[0049] selecting one or more delivery conditions,

[0050] optimising a price, and/or,

[0051] optimising a delivery condition,

[0052] comparing to predetermined prices and/or delivery conditions,

[0053] making a purchase decision,

[0054] sending a purchase order to a seller or supplier, for the presentapparatus and specification.

[0055] Preferably this is carried out by means of standard e-procurementprotocols, such as those defined by RosettaNet, provided at a web sitewherein the financial cost of a product or equipment may evaluatedaccording to the methods described above. The user may then send anaccepted specification to a purchase process for a price (with orwithout conditions) and subsequently to make a buying decision. A buyingdecision may for example be applied to a relatively simple purchasedecision such as a motor or to a relatively complex procurement processsuch as a part of a paper mill control system or a power distributionsystem.

[0056] The preferred type of e-procurement document transmitted betweenthe purchaser and supplier comprises an open standard document, usingfor example a type of XML file. The document may also conform to one ormore current standards for electronic documents such as EDIFACT or ASCX12; and/or to similar standards issued by other recognized bodiesincluding commercial or financial organizations such as Society forWorldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). Other currentstandards capable of use for electronic data interchange includeDocument Object Model (DOM), Microsoft's (Trade Mark) MSXML and astandard called XHTML 1.0 provided by World Wide Web Committee (W3C).The transmitted e-procurement document comprises necessary details suchas any of:

[0057] identification of document type

[0058] authorization details,

[0059] security details,

[0060] contact details,

[0061] acknowledgement request details,

[0062] cancellation details

[0063] contract references for seller, manufacturer,

[0064] ordered item identification,

[0065] UPC reference,

[0066] delivery details, carrier and options.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, specifications may bechanged and the price evaluation re-run a plurality of times until aniteration produces a cost that is acceptable according to apre-determined value. This may be carried out by a human user or by acomputer or computer program accessing the procurement means.

[0068] The procurement means may include an operator or computer programlog-in so that a procurement process may interrupted, or delayed, andre-started one or more times. By this means, a user or computer orcomputer program may return to the procurement process at a later dateand review, re-analyse or continue with evaluation of changes to aspecification. The individual user history of the operator/computerprogram in the procurement means is associated with a logged in user bymeans of known identification means such as password, stored digitalfile or marker such as a cookie stored on the user machine, orcombinations of identification means.

[0069] The specification sent to the seller and/or manufacturer toobtain a replacement apparatus or part as a result of a procurementprocess by a purchaser is preferably in the form of an order or purchaseorder.

[0070] In the case that an operator does not decide to over-ride thescheduled replacement date for the item of equipment, the replacementaspect system may itself alter the scheduled replacement date inresponse to data received from the other aspect systems. The replacementaspect system may for example be informed by the control aspect systemof a detected failure in an item of equipment. In this case, replacementof the equipment is immediately initiated. In other cases, the scheduledreplacement date may be altered due to varying production conditionsmonitored by the process control system. Alteration of a replacementdate may be conducted without any specific operator input, or mayrequire operator authorisation.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the initiation ofe-procurement operations may be conducted by the operator. Initiation ofe-procurement operations may also be conducted automatically by thereplacement aspect system, when a scheduled, or unscheduled, replacementdate or date range approaches. Initiation may occur in response to thedetection of a predetermined trigger event, for example the current datebeing within a predetermined period (which may vary between differenttypes of equipment) from the scheduled replacement date.

[0072]FIG. 7 shows a flowchart starting at point B, where a replacementapplication initiates a replacement operation according to an aspect ofthe invetion. The replacement application first makes a query to see ifthe item is available in local inventory. If it is so, Y, then thereplacement application generates a work order for replacement from thelocal inventory and transmits it t the appropriate maintenance or otherdepartment(s). If the item is not in local inventory, N, the replacementapplication generates a RFQ form and initiates an e-procurement process.

[0073] It is necessary to point out that a purchase process according tothe invention to procure a simple item such as a single electric motor,of an optimised selection of specifications such as horsepower,revolutions per minute, frame size etc. may involve retrievinginformation from a potential supplier containing only one price and noor very few associated conditions. The invention is also applicable toprocurement of more complex systems or arrangements of a plurality ofapparatus. Procurement of more complex systems, in which negotiations orface-to face meetings of representatives may be included in thepurchasing process.

[0074] In another embodiment of the invention, the method may alsoinclude a decision stage in which a procurement decision has to gothrough an approval stage. In the case of a purchase in excess of, forexample, a specified amount of money, the procurement process issuspended while approval is sought from a person with appropriateauthority for spending such an amount. When approval is returned thee-procurement process continues as before.

[0075] The method can also be implemented at least in part via atelephone, or portable computer (including any kind of computing deviceincluding Laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) such as PalmPilots (Trade Mark), etc), with a connection or a wireless connection toa telephone or data network. This is best carried out using a telephone,computer or portable computer, suitably equipped for communication withdigital networks such as by means of compatibility with WirelessApplication Protocol (WAP), I-Mode or Bluetooth. Such a telephone may beused to display information and provide interactive communication withnetworked or Internet embodiment of the invention. Such a telephoneequipped to receive and/or manipulate information from the purchaseprocess and make choices or issue commands may be used to:

[0076] select an apparatus or equipment to be replaced,

[0077] initiate a procurement to replace the equipment,

[0078] run evaluations,

[0079] run life cycle analysis or other environmental evaluations,

[0080] proceed to a buying decision, and

[0081] decide to buy or not buy, by means of menu-driven or graphic userinterface (GUI) driven software running on the telephone. The softwarerunning on the telephone is preferably software enabled for graphicmanipulation of symbolic means displayed by the telephone based on HTML,cHTML, XML, similar or other software including such as iMode, WapMarkup Language WML and similar. Similar other software can includeprotocols such as Handheld Devices markup Language (HDML).

[0082] The present invention is not limited only to industrial processcontrol systems and can also include other types of applications, suchas, for example, instruments, parts from building control systems,systems on board a ship, sensors, measuring instrument or valves etc forprocesses and/or control systems for process control in manufacturingplants, paper mills, rolling mills, car assembly plants, oil and gasinstallations, refineries etc.) The term “industrial plant” as usedherein should be construed accordingly.

1. A computer-implemented method for the replacement of equipment in aplant arranged with a control system, in which a replacement operationis conducted at least in part by means of a first software applicationcomponent for conducting e-procurement operations whereby one or morereplacement devices complying with a defined specification may beprocured from one or more external suppliers, which first softwareapplication component is functionally linked with at least one secondsoftware application component which represents and manages runtimeoperational data associated with said equipment, such that e-procurementoperations may be initiated via said at least one second softwareapplication component.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one second software application component comprises a reportingsoftware function for reporting on an operational condition monitoredduring runtime of the industrial plant.
 3. A method according to claim2, wherein said at least one second software application comprises afunction for producing one or more of a production report, a qualityreport, a cost of operation report.
 4. A method according to claim 1, 2or 3, wherein said at least one second software application componentcomprises a control software function for controlling operationalconditions relating to said equipment.
 5. A method according to anypreceding claim, wherein said at least one second software applicationcomponent comprises a graphical software function for producing agraphical runtime representation of said equipment in its operationalcontext of said plant, whereby said management function for said runtimeoperational data is accessed.
 6. A method according to claim 5,comprising the steps of: a user selecting a presentation of a menu viasaid runtime representation of said equipment; retrieving aspecification stored, or generated on the basis of stored data, for saidequipment; and procuring the replacement apparatus according to at leastpart of said specification.
 7. A method according to claim 6, comprisingproviding said user with an option to alter said specification after thespecification is retrieved.
 8. A method according to claim 6 or 7,wherein said presentation is selected from a graphical representation ona screen of any of: a computer connected by a LAN network to the processcontrol system; a computer connected by a WAN network to the processcontrol system; a computer connected by a telephone network to theprocess control system; a computer connected by a short range radio linkto the process control system; a mobile telephone connected by atelephone network to the process control system; and a mobile telephoneconnected by a short range radio link to the process control system. 9.A method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, comprising providing said userwith confirmation data once a preferred replacement has been identified,and said user selecting a an option to execute a purchase of saidreplacement.
 10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein saide-procurement operations comprise the steps of requesting, via a datacommunications network, a plurality of proposals for supply from aplurality of different suppliers, and selecting a preferred replacementfrom said proposals.
 11. A method according to any preceding claim,wherein said e-procurement operations comprise the step of requesting anapproval for a purchase of a predetermined value from a person orprocess having authority to give approval to make said purchase.
 12. Amethod according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said initiation ofe-procurement operations is arranged to occur automatically in responseto operational data associated with said equipment received from said atleast one second software application component.
 13. A method accordingto any preceding claim, comprising the steps of: examining one or moreprices and conditions retrieved in the e-procurement operations; forminga negative buying decision; changing at least one part of thereplacement apparatus specification to initiate a modified e-procurementprocess; examining one or more new prices and conditions retrieved inthe modified e-procurement process; and transmitting a purchaseconfirmation to an identified preferred supplier.
 14. A method accordingto any preceding claim, comprising the steps of: performing iterationsof the cost evaluation of the specification in which specificationfactors or parameters are changed judging each evaluation result inaccordance with a predefined algorithm, to finalise an e-procurementprocess.
 15. A procurement system for ordering equipment for anindustrial plant, said system including means for transmittinginformation including a specification for said equipment and a means forcommunication with suppliers over a network, wherein the systemcomprises: a first software application component for conductinge-procurement operations whereby one or more replacement devicescomplying with a defined specification may be procured from one or moreexternal suppliers, which component is functionally linked with at leastone second software application component for managing runtimeoperational data associated with said equipment, such that e-procurementoperations may be initiated via said at least one second softwareapplication component.
 16. A procurement system according to claim 15,wherein the system includes means for communicating the specificationfor said replacement apparatus to one or manufacturers or suppliers ofthe replacement apparatus or part or related service thereof.
 17. Aprocurement system according to claim 15, comprising software means tomatch a registered or identified logged-in prospective customer to ahistory of details of specification selection, and subsequent changes tospecification stored in a database of the system.
 18. A procurementsystem according to claim 15, comprising software means to match aregistered or identified logged-in prospective customer to a history ofdetails of specification selection comprising digital identifier meanssuch as a cookie stored in a computer used by the prospective customer.19. A computer program code element, comprising computer code means orsoftware code portions for enabling a computer or a processor to carrythe steps of a method according to any of claims 1 to
 14. 20. A computerprogram code element, comprising computer code means or software codeportions for enabling a computer or a processor to retrieve informationabout replacement equipment, whereby said computer or processor carriesout actions to: receive information from a database detailing equipmentspecification; receive input identifying a parameter relating todelivery times; conduct e-procurement operations to obtain at least onequote for a given specification and delivery time.
 21. The computerprogram code element of claim 20, wherein the computer code means orsoftware code portions comprise software means enabling a user to:change a at least one parameter relating to the replacement apparatusspecification, initiate e-procurement operations to obtain at least onequote for the new specification.
 22. The computer program code elementof claim 21, wherein the computer code means or software code portionscomprise software means enabling a user to: repeatedly change at leastone parameter relating to the replacement apparatus specification, carryout repeated e-procurement operations for the new specification untilthe received quote indicates a financial cost which is equal to or lessthan a predetermined target cost.
 23. The computer program code elementof claim 21 or 22, wherein in that the computer code means or softwarecode portions comprise software means enabling a user to: repeatedlychange at least one parameter relating to the replacement apparatusspecification, carry out repeated e-procurement operations for the newspecification until the received quote indicates a delivery date whichis equal to or less than a predetermined target date.
 24. The computerprogram code element of any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the computercode means or software code portions comprise software means enabling auser to communicate a buying decision, based on one or more prices andconditions resulting from the e-procurement operations for a selectedspecification, by means of a single action by the user.
 25. The computerprogram code element of any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the computercode means or software code portions comprise software means tocommunicate a decision to buy replacement equipment as a purchase orderto a selected manufacturer or distributor.
 26. The computer program codeelement of any of claims 20 to 25, wherein the computer code means orsoftware code portions comprise executable parts formed written in asone or more object oriented programs.
 27. The use of the computerprogram code element of any of claims 19 to 26 over a public datacommunications network such as the Internet by a prospective customer toevaluate a price for one or more devices in order to make a buyingdecision.
 28. A computer program contained in a computer readablemedium, comprising computer program code means to make a computer orprocessor carry out the steps of a method according to claims 1-14. 29.A computer data signal embodied for communication in a computerisedsystem, the communication being associated with replacement of equipmentin a process control system for an industrial plant, wherein the datasignal comprises information derived from a maintenance specificationrepresenting said equipment in a software application for conductingruntime maintenance of said equipment in the control system.
 30. Acomputer data signal as claimed in claim 29, wherein the communicationcomprises at least one part identifying the equipment and one partidentifying a desired delivery date or date range.
 31. A method ofgenerating a computer data signal as claimed in claim 29 or 30, whereinthe computer data signal is generated in an automatic replenishmentprocedure of the computerised system, on the basis of an event triggerstored in the computerised system.
 32. A method of generating a computerdata signal as claimed in any of claim 29, 30 or 31, wherein thecomputer data signal is generated by an operator of the computerisedsystem during runtime maintenance operations for said industrial plant.